Switch-operating mechanism



April 3, 1928. 1,665,047

W. l. WANDS SWITC'H OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Sent. 1, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 Inks! m]. Wknda April 3, 1928. 1,665,047

W. l. WANDS I SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheav 2 o o 0 F5:

lllll l A l l l u Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES WASHINGTON I. WANDS, F FAIRBURY, NEBRASKA;

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Application filed September 1, 1927. Serial No. 216,922.

This invention relates to switch operating mechanism and more particularly to switch operating mechanism which is automatic in the operation of closing the switch, such as that disclosed in my prior Patent, No.

522,308, granted July 3, 189 1, for automatic switch closers.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will not interfere in any way with the manual control of the switch and which may be readily combined with the usual switch lever.

vide a device of this character, wherein the automatic switch closing features are under the control of the operator of the locomotive in passing over the-track. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is sutliciently accurate in its switch controlling features to enable its use with stub switches as well as the ordinarylap switch.

A still further object of the invention is f to provide a novel and improved means for interconnecting the automatic control mechanism with the switch lever.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of switch mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional View through the switch control mechanism showing the same when the parts of the switch are locked in main line position;

Figure 3 is a similar view with the manually operable lever controlling the switch in position to maintain the switch points in the siding position;

Figure 4: is a similar view showing the automatic trip mechanism operating to re lease the hand lever controlled operating arm;

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the manner in which the hand lever controlled arm, while the lever thereof is in siding position, may operate to lock the switch in main line position;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure 2;

Figure '7 is a detail sectional view showing a trip mechanism for use in connection with the switch control mechanism;

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional View illustrating a type of locomotive carried operating mechanism for the trip of Figure 7.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates movable switch sections for directing a locomotive passing over tracks either to the main rails, designated at 11, or the rails 12 of a siding. The numeral 13 designates I a bar, by means of which the movable switch A further object of the invention is to prosections are connected and 14 a horizontally pivoted lever for manually controlling operation of'this bar.

In accordance with my invention, I provide between the lever 14: and bar 13 a housing 15 along one wall of which is slidably movable a control block 16, which is rigidly connected to the inner end of the switch bar 13 and hasupon the side face thereof remote from the casing-wall two longitudinally spaced laterally projecting lugs 17 and 18. A support 19 extends transversely of the casing and has an opening through which the bar 13 is directed. Between the support 19 and the seat 20 carried by the bar 13, a spring 21 surrounds the bar and constantly tends to urge the bar to a position where the movable elements 10 of the switch are positioned to direct passing traflic along the main rails 11. When the movable elements arrive at this position, movement of the bar 13 is limited by engagement of the block 16 with the support 19. Movement of the bar 13 in the opposite direction is resisted by. a spring 21 and is limited by the engagement of the inner end of the control block 16 with the inner end wall of the casing.

Connected with the vertically swinging lever 1 1 is a horizontally swinging operat ing arm 22 which extends into the casing and is provided at its forward end with a transversely extending head 23 arranged at the opposite side of the arm from the control block 16. This head has at the free end of its inner face a rearwardly projecting lug 24, the inner face of which parallels the arm and the outer face of which tapers toward the inner face at the free end of the lug,'so that thelug is substantially wedge-shaped. Adjacent its inner end, the operating arm has a single lug 26 which is arranged upon llU that face of the arm confronting the bar 16.

Pivoted within the casing is a lever 27,

the forward end of which projects through an opening 28 formed in the wall of the casing and extends adjacent the rails and the rear end of which has a vertically directed pin 29. A spring 30 engaging the lever 27 constantly urges the lever about its pivot, with the result that the pin 29 forcibly engages the operating arm 22 to maintain the same in engagement with the control block 16. 1 i

It will be obvious that if the lug 26 of the operating arm is engaged between the lugs 17 and 18 of the control block and the lever 14: is shifted away from the rails, the block 16 will be drawn inwardly against the action of the spring 21 and the switch points i moved to the position where the traiiic is directed to the siding. If the lever 1a is locked in this position, it will likewise be obvious that if the lever 27 is shifted against the action ofits spring 30, its pin 29 will engage the inner face of the lug 2 1 which, at this time, lies in the path of the pin and the arm 22 will be swung about its pivot until the block 26 disengages from the lug 18 of the control block 16, freeing the control block for movement, so that the switch points will be moved to their normal position under the action of the spring 21. WVith the control block in this latter position, release of the lever 27 will cause the lug 26 of the arm 22 to engage behind the lug l8 and lock the switch bar between this lug and 1 the support 19, so that it is immovable. This operation, therefore, permits the switch to be moved to the main line position with the switch lever locked in the siding position.

If the lever 22 has its lug. 26 engaged between the lugs 17 .and 18 and the switch lever 14 is moved to the main line position and locked, the lug 26 engages the lug 17 and since the opposite face of the lug 17 is in engagement with the support 19, the switch bar is locked against longitudinal movement. With the control arm in this position, the pin 29 lies inwardly of the inner end of the lug 24, so that if the lever 27 is shifted against the action of its spring, there is no effect upon the arm 22, the lever 27 merely moving idly. When the switch lever is in the siding position and the. control block 16 is inits main line position, the lug .55

26 may not, of course, pass thelug 18. In order to permit the switch lever 14: to be restored to a position where it corresponds to a position of the movable elements of the switch, the lever 27 may be shifted to move the arm 22 transversely until the control arm disengages from the controlblock. I, however, prefer to provide the lever 22 with a handle, whereby it may be shifted, without the use of the lever 27. .Bumping blocks 31 and 32 are preferably provided against which the rear face of the lug 26 and the front face of the head 23 engage to positively limit operating movements of the control arm 22 and its lever 1A.

In Figures 1 to 5,1 have illustrated suitable mechanism. for controlling the operation of thele'ver' 27. This operating mechanism includes a pivoted lever 33 extending beneath the tracks and having one end thereof connected with the outer end of the lever 27 by rigid links 341. At the opposite end of this lever, a cable 35 is connected and extended along the main track a desired distance. Connected to the lever 27 is a second cable 36, whichis extended along the rightof-way in the opposite direction. Opposite ends of these cables are extended into housings 37 in which are horizontally pivoted at 38 trigger elements 39 in theform of levers counterweighted, as at 40, and having their upper ends" normally projecting through'a slot formed in the upper end 41 of the case ing.- The pivots 38 extend transverselyof the main line, so that the swinging move ment of the levers is longitudinally of the main line and this swinging movement is limited by bumpers 42 formed by the end walls of slots 43 through which the ends 41 of the levers project. The cables are secured to the lower end of the levers which are normally vertically disposed.

It will be obvious that a train pas-sing over the main line and having members which will engage with these triggers will move one of the triggers in a direction tensioning its cable and the other of the triggers in a direction slackening its cable. The cable which is tensioned will, of course, cause operation of the lever 27 either directly or throughthe lever 33.

The means carried by the engine for engagement with the triggers} preferably comprises a casing 44 secured to the pilot beam of the engine, generally designated at 41-5 and having directed therethrough "a pair of bars 16. A vertical pivot t7 is mounted in the casing betwen the bars 46 and has mounted thereon a T-lever, the ends of the head 18 of which are slotted at 19 for the reception of pins 50 secured to the bars 16. The stem 51 of the T-lever is connected with an operating element 52 which extends into the cab of the locomotive. Itwill be obvious that by manipulating this T-lever, the bars 46 may be causedto oppositely extend from the casing 45, so that they project sufficiently to engage and operate the triggers or so that Hill they are withdrawn and will. not engage these triggers. g

It will be obvious that by use of mecha nism of the character just described, the automatic return of a switch from siding to the main line position may be obtained without the useof stopping a train to permit a trainman to perform this operation. It will also be obvious that this construction permits this operation without interfering with manual control of the switch where desired and additionally provides means for locking the switch in its main line position, so that accidental movement of the movable elements thereof cannot take place.

Since the construction hereinbefore set forth is capable of a certain range of change and modification without materially departing from the spirit of the invention, I do not limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In switch operating mechanism, movable switch points shiftable to main line or siding positions, a bar connected with said switch points and spring-pressed to maintain the switch points in main line position, a manually operable lever, a pivoted arm connected with said lever and vhaving latching engagement with said bar whereby the bar may be shifted to siding position and maintained against return movement under the influence of its spring, means for disengaging the arm from the bar to permit movement of the bar to main line position and actuating mechanism for said means in cluding a trip operable by the rolling stock passing over the right-of-Way.

2. In switch operating mechanism, movable switch points shiftable to main line or siding positions, a bar connected with said switch points and spring-pressed to maintain the switch points in main line position, a manually operable lever, a pivoted arm connected with said lever and having latching engagement with said bar whereby the bar may be shifted to siding position and maintained against return .iovement under the influence of its spring, means for disengaging the arm from the bar to permit movement of the bar to main line position, actuating mechanism for said means including a trip operable by'the rolling stock passing over the right-of-way, means upon the arm having engagement with the bar in either main line or siding positions preventing movement of the bar in a direction shifting the switch points to siding position when the bar is in the main line position and means limiting movement of the bar to main line position.

3. In switch operating mechanism, movable switch points shiftable to main line or siding positions, a bar connected with said switch points and spring-pressed to maintain the switch points in main line position, a manually operable lever, a pivoted arm connected with said lever and having latching engagement with said bar whereby the bar may be shifted to siding position and maintained against return movement under the influence of its spring, means for disengaging the arm from the bar to permit movement of the bar tomain line position and actuating mechanism for said means in-' cluding a trip operable by the rolling stock passing over the right-of-way, said bar having at its inner end a control block embody ing spaced lugs, said head in the main line position of the bar coacting with a stop limiting its movement in said direction, said arm having a lug engaging with the face of one of said lugs remote from said stop when the bar is in the main line position and the manually operable lever is in the main line position and with the corresponding face of the other of the lugs when the bar is in the main line position and the manually operable lever is in the siding position.

4. In switch operating mechanism, movable switch points shiftable to main line or siding positions, a bar connected with said switch points and spring-pressed to maintain the switch points in main line position, a manually operable lever, apivoted arm connected with said lever and having latching engagement with said bar whereby the bar may be shlfted to siding position and maintained against return movement under the influence of its spring, a pivoted lever, means upon one end of the lever having engagement with the arm permitting longitudinal movement of the arm with relation to said end of the lever for connecting the lever and arm for simulta neous movement when the arm and its operatinglever are insiding position and trip mechanism operated by vehicles passing over the right-of-way connected with the opposite end of the lever.

5. In switch operating mechanism, movable switch points shiftable to main line or siding positions, a bar connected with said switch points and spring-pressed to maintainthe switch points in main line position, a manually operable lever, a pivoted arm connected with said lever and having a lug confronting the bar, a pair of lugs on said bar for coaction with the lug of the arm and means yieldably maintaining the lug of the arm in engagement with said bar and positioned for cooperation with the lugs of the bar, said means being operable to disengage the lug of the arm from the lugs of the bar.

6. In switch operating mechanism, mov

able switch points shiftable to main line or siding positions, a bar connected with said switch points and spring-pressed to maintain the switch points in main line position, a manually operable lever, a pivoted arm connected with said lever and having a lug confronting the bar, a pair of lugs on said bar for coaotion with the lug of the arm and means yieldably maintaining the lug of the arm 1n engagement with said bar andvpositioned for cooperation with the lug's'of the bar, said means being operable to tdisengage the lag of the arm from the lugsof the bar, a stop against which the bar engages to limit its movement when the switch points are in mainline position, the lug'of said arm engaging the face of one of the lugs of the bar when the manually operable lever is in the main line position and the bauis in the main line position and engaging the corresponding face of the other of the lugs when the manually operable lever is in sidingposition and the bar is in main line position. V

7 In switch operating mechanism, movable switch points shiftable to main line or siding positions, a bar connected With said switch points and spring-pressed to maintain the switch points in main line position, a manually operable lever, a pivoted arm connected with said lever and having a lug confronting the bar, a pair of lugs on said bar for coaction with the lug of the arm, means yiedably maintaining the lug of the arm in engagement with said bar and positioned for cooperation with the lugs of the bar, said means being operable to disengage the lug or the-arm from the lugs of the bar, and a tripoperable by rolling stock passing over the right-of-way for operating the last named means.

8. In switch operating mechanism, movable switch points shiftable to main line or .siding positions, a bar connected with said. switch points and spring-pressed to maintain the switch points in main line position, a manually operable lever, a pivoted arm connected with said lever and hav-- able switch points shiftable to main line or siding positions, a bar connected with said switch points and spring-pressed to position. amanually operable lever, a pivoted arm connected with said lever and hav ing latching engagement with said bar whereby the bar may be; shifted to siding position and maintained against return movement under the influence of its spring, means for disengaging the arm from the bar I to permit movement of the bar to main line position, actuating mechanism for said means including a. trip operable by the rollma e ing stock passing over the right-of-way,

means upon the arm having engagement with the barin either main line or siding positions preventing movement of the bar in a direction shifting the switch points vto siding position when the bar is in the main line position and means limiting movement of the bar to main line position, said means for disengaging the arm from the bar being normally spring-pressed to maintain the arm in operable engagement with the bar. p

10. In switch operating mechanism, movable switch points shiftable to mainline or siding positions, a bar connected with said switch points and spring-pressed to maintain the switch points in main line position, a manuallyoperable lever, a pivoted arm connected with said lever and having latching engagement with said bar whereby the bar may be shifted to siding position and maintained against return movement undeq the influence of its spring, means for disengaging the arm from the" bar to permit movement of the bar to main line position and actuatingmechanism for said means including a trip operable by the i'0 ll ing stock passing over the right-of-way, said bar having at its inner end a control block embodying spaced lugs, saidblock in the main line position of the bar coacting with a stop limiting its movement in said direction, said arm having a lug engaging with the face of one of said lugs remote from said stop when the bar is in the mainline position and the manually operable lever is in the main line position and with the corresponding face of the other of the lugs when the bar is in the main line position and the manually operable lever is in the siding position, said means for disengaging the arm from the bar being normally spring-pressed to maintain the arm in operable engagement with the bar.

11. In switch operating mechanism, movable switch points shiftable to main line or siding positions, a bar connected with said switch points and spring-pressed to maintain the switch points in main line position, a manually operable lever, a pivoted arm connected with said lever and having latching engagement with said bar whereby the bar may be shifted to siding position 4 7, and maintained against return movement maintain the switch points 111 mam line I the lever and arm" for simultaneous movement when the arm and its operating lever are insiding position, trip mechanism operated by vehicles passing over the rightof-way connected with the-opposite end of the lever, and a spring urging the first with the bar.

12. In trip operating mechanism for rolling stock, a casing supported thereby, a pair of rods slidably mounted in the casing and extensible therefrom at opposite sides thereof, a pivot extending upwardly between the rods within the casing, a T-lever mounted at the junction of its head and stem upon the pivot, the ends of the arms of the head of the T-lever being slotted, pins upon the rods extending into the slots of the arms of the T-lever and a connection between the stem of the T-lever whereby it may be operated.

13. In trip mechanism for controlling the signals and in combination, a horizontally oscillatable arm adapted to be arranged adjacent the right-of-way, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and traversing the right-of-way, a connection between one end of the lever and said oscillatable arm, casings arranged at opposite sides of the rightof-way at points remote from said arm, horizontal pivots transverse to the right-ofway within each casing, a trip pivoted within each casing and counterweighted at its lower end to normally maintain the same in vertical position, the casing having a slot through which the upper end of the trip extends, the ends of the slots providing stops limiting oscillation of the trips, a flexible connection between the other end of said lever and the lower end of the trip disposed at the corresponding side of the right-ofway and a corresponding connection between the other of the trips and said oscillatable arm.

14. In trip mechanism for controlling the signals and in combination, a horizontally oscillatable arm adapted to be arranged adjacent the right-of-way, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and traversing the right-of-wz-iy, a connection between one end of the lever and said oscillatable arm, casings arranged at opposite sides of the rightof-way at points remote from said arm, horizontal pivots transverse to the right-ofway within each casing, a trip pivoted within each casing and counterweighted at its lower'end to normally maintain the same in vertical position, the casing having a slot through which the upper end of the trip extends, the ends of the slots providing stops limiting oscillation of the trips, a flexible connection between the other end of said lever and the lower end of the trip disposed at the corresponding side of the right-of way, a corresponding connection between the other of the trips and said oscillatable arm, movable switch points controlling movement of trafiic over the right-of-way and a siding, a bar connected with said switch points and spring-pressed to maintain the switch points in main line position, a latch retaining said bar with the switch points in siding position and a connection between said arm and'the latch for disengaging the latch when the arm is oscillated.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

WASHINGTON I. WANDS. 

